A/N: Well! I just wanted to thank all of my wonderful reviewers! Throws shirtless pictures of Gippal to all her reviewers

Sorry this chapter took so long! I promise to update sooner next time! Whew life is busy!

Well! On with Chapter 3!

Rikku turned around suddenly, and found herself facing a broad chest clothed in a gray shirt and maroon and black shoulder armor. She looked up into Gippal's smiling face.

"Gippal! You moron! Aargh!" Rikku reached behind her back, and rubbed the sore spot where her bikini strap had struck.

"It's good to see you short stuff. How ya been?" Gippal said, a twinkle in his eye.

"Well I was great until some spiky haired monkey decided to sneak up behind me and scare the chocobos out of me!" Rikku knew that Gippal hated it when she talked about his hair.

Gippal ran his fingers through his hair. "Hey now, its hard work being this damn good looking." He flashed her a pearly smile. Rikku was used to his self-absorbed comments, that never seemed to stop pouring from his mouth. She just stuck her finger down her throat and said, "Kyk sa!" (Gag me!)

"So, Cid's girl, got this little memo today. Care to read?" Gippal pulled a small piece of paper from his pocket, and waved it in front of Rikku's face. Rikku's curiosity getting the better of her, reached out to get it. Gippal swiftly pulled the paper out of her reach. "Now first, you gotta say please, short stuff."

"Gippal!" Rikku sighed as she jumped up and attempted to snatch the paper from the man who was at least 2 feet taller than her. Gippal laughed as the smaller girl placed her hands on his shoulders and attempted to climb up his body to get the memo.

"Hey Cid's girl…Oooh…I'm kinda enjoying this….Whoa! Whoa!" Gippal jumped backwards as Rikku lifted her leg and attempted to kick him in an unpleasant area. "Here take it! All you had to do was say please!" Gippal laughed as Rikku snatched the memo from his hand and proceeded to read it.

It read:

To Master Gippal

From: The Hope of Spira Committee

Master Gippal, due to the recent threats against the Masters of the HoS, we have decided to hire a personal bodyguard for each of you. Your bodyguard will arrive tomorrow morning by airship, and will begin their duties as soon as they are settled. Any questions or issues are to be directed to the head committee member Willem.

Thank you,

HoS Committee

"So, how do you like that shortie?" Gippal said as Rikku handed him the memo back. "Isn't that hilarious? They want to hire ME a bodyguard! As if I need one! All I gotta say is they'd better not stick me with a big hairy man named Bubba." Gippal laughed at himself.

Rikku realized that Gippal didn't know that she was his new bodyguard. She decided to play it dumb for a while. "You should be happy that someone actually cares enough to hire a bodyguard to watch over your silly butt."

"Oh Cid's girl, you are just the charmer aren't you!" Gippal playfully flicked the tip of Rikku's nose with his finger.

"Will you ever realize that my name is RIKKU! Do I have to tattoo it to your forehead?" Rikku reached up and poked Gippal right between the eyes.

"So, Princess, what are you doin here? Visiting Paine? Or, you just couldn't stay away from me….that must be it…" Before Rikku could answer, Gippal's personal commsphere rang.

Gippal spoke quietly into the sphere before turning to Rikku. "Well, Princess, I gotta run, my fans await. Important meeting." Gippal walked past Rikku, and playfully tugged on one of her braids. Rikku attempted to kick him in the butt, but only succeeded in falling backwards. Gippal laughed as he walked down the hallway and heard Rikku yell "You Jerk!"

Rikku stood and composed herself as she watched Gippal's retreating form disappear down the hallway. "He'll never change." She thought as she walked the opposite way down the hall and out onto a large balcony. "He's gonna be so surprised to find out I am his new bodyguard! I can't wait to see his face!" Rikku laughed at herself as she watched two small bluebirds twittering away on the edge of the balcony.

Meanwhile

"So, as you can see, this union between Master Gippal and Lady Elisa will help to bring the Al Bhed and the Yevonites together in a union that will last for ages." Gippal yawned quietly as he listened to a chubby man with gray hair discuss his life like he wasn't even there. 2 weeks prior, the head committee members had asked Nooj and Baralai to approach him with an interesting offer. Gippal's eye glazed over as his thoughts drifted to two weeks prior……

"Gippal," Baralai had said, "We've been discussing the recent attacks on Al Bhed families that have taken up residence on Mihen Highroad."

"I know all about those!" Gippal had said angrily. "Children getting kidnapped, Al Bhed women getting raped, Al Bhed men getting tied up and robbed." Gippal slammed his fist into a nearby pillow that was on the couch he was lounging on.

"Well Gippal, Nooj and I have figured out a way to help the attacks against your people end completely." Baralai said quietly.

"I'm listening." Gippal said, curious.

"Well, as you have heard, the Yevonites are the main suspects against these crimes. Of course it has yet to be proven, but it is common knowledge that the Yevonites have always had something against your people." Baralai knew all about this, since he was once the New Yevon leader.

"Well, Gippal," Nooj continued Baralai's words, "Apart from a full scale war with the Yevonites, we have little we can do to help maintain the happiness between the different peoples of Spira. Yesterday, though, the new leader of the Yevonites approached the HoS committee with a peace treaty. He told the committee that he didn't want a battle to stem between the Al Bhed and the Yevonites."

Baralai interrupted Nooj to continue. "He made us an offer that directly involves you Gippal." Baralai rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "He told the committee that he wished for a union between the Al Bhed and the Yevonites. He wished to have his daughter marry you, the representative for the Al Bhed, and a Master with the Hope of Spira." Baralai avoided Gippal's gaze as he said this.

Gippal couldn't believe his ears. "What! What kind of shit is this?" Gippal sat down in a nearby chair and put his head in his hands. "Ok, let me get this straight. A Yevonite wants me to marry his Yevonite daughter in order to stop the feud between their people and mine? I've never even met his daughter. I mean…What if she is some kind of freak or something. She could have an eyeball in the middle of her forehead!" Gippal poked his finger in the middle of his head for added effect.

"Gippal." Nooj approached Gippal's seat. "You are talking nonsense. Now this is something you will have to figure out on your own. This mainly involves your people, and their safety. We will leave you for a while to think about this." Baralai and Nooj both departed quietly and left Gippal with his stirring thoughts.

Gippal stood up from his seat and approached the fireplace that was emitting a soothing red glow. He stared into the small flames, mesmerized by their dancing. "I can't believe this." He thought as he leaned his forehead against the mantle of the fireplace. "How can I even consider marrying this girl…a Yevonite of all people! I can barely stand to hear their voices most of the time…"

Gippal pounded his fist against the wall causing the plants placed on the mantle to shake. "Dammit! Why do these things always happen to me! I mean I guess I am left with no choice. I will have to marry her. I will do it for the safety of my people, and to prevent a war and needless deaths." Gippal sat down again. He rubbed his temples slowly, trying to run his many thoughts through his head. "Shit." He finally said aloud, as he got up determinedly and made his way down the hallway to where his friends were waiting.

"So, what do you think Master Gippal…Master Gippal!" Gippal's thoughts were jarred back into the present.

"Wha! Huh?" Gippal sat up straight, and blinked his good eye a couple of times. The older gentleman, Jim, that had been talking to him the entire time, let out a small sigh. "Master Gippal, I was just explaining the situation with your new bodyguard."

"Oh yeah, that whole thing." Gippal ran his hand over his face to wake himself up. "Well, who is my bodyguard anyways? I haven't had a chance to meet him yet."

Jim let out a small chuckle. "On the contrary Sir Gippal, you've met your bodyguard just this morning."

Gippal gave the man a confused look. "Sir Gippal, your new bodyguard is to be Miss Rikku!"

Well folks, that concludes Chapter 3! Hope you liked it...I just love writing about this couple! Please Read and Review! Chapter 4 is almost done, and almost ready to post up! Stay Tuned!